What in the world is going on in this thoroughly messed up world?

Solomon, the King of Israel, wrote these verses below in the book of Proverbs in the Bible, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a [unregenerate unbelieving natural] man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12 (KJV)

Proverbs 2:1-9 (KJV)

¹ My son, if thou wilt receive my words [the Lord’s words], and hide my commandments with thee;
² So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
³ Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
⁴ If thou seekest her [understanding] as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
⁵ Then shalt thou understand the fear [reverence] of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
⁶ For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler [shield] to them that walk uprightly.
⁸ He keepeth the paths of [good] judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
⁹ Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and [good] judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

‘Understanding’ as Seen in the Apostle Paul’s Epistles ‘to the Gentiles’:

Romans 1:31 (KJV) (Unbelievers are) ³¹ Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

1 Corinthians 14:20 (KJV) ²⁰ Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men (mature, grown up).

Ephesians 1:18 (KJV) ¹⁸ The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance [that is already] in the saints,

Ephesians 4:18 (KJV) (Unbelievers) ¹⁸ Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Ephesians 5:17 (KJV) ¹⁷ Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Philippians 4:7 (KJV) ⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:9 (KJV) ⁹ For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Colossians 2:2 (KJV) ² That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God [the Triune Godhead), and of the Father, and of Christ;

1 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) (False teachers) ⁷ Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

2 Timothy 2:7 (KJV) ⁷ Consider what I [Paul] say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.